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Mountain Zebra Birding Weekend

The SANParks Honorary Rangers in the Mountain Zebra National Park region will be hosting their annual Sasol Birding Weekend in the Park from 6 to 8 September. This is your chance to enjoy birding in the scenic landscapes of the Park, with a chance of spotting the Park’s specials such as the Drakensberg rock jumper, …

The SANParks Honorary Rangers in the Mountain Zebra National Park region will be hosting their annual Sasol Birding Weekend in the Park from 6 to 8 September.
This is your chance to enjoy birding in the scenic landscapes of the Park, with a chance of spotting the Park’s specials such as the Drakensberg rock jumper, ground woodpecker, Ludwig’s bustard, Layards titbabbler and martial eagle.

Experienced birders and novices alike are welcome to participate in the event which promises both good-natured competition and time to relax. Bird sightings are guaranteed, with last year’s winners having spotted almost 30 bird species in the rest camp surrounds alone.

The weekend kicks off with registration at the Conference room on Friday 6 September from 16:00.  This will be followed by a welcoming and dinner, with a special talk on birding by the University of Rhodes’ Prof. Adrian Craig.

Saturday’s programme kicks off with late registration from 05:30 to 07:00, and a full day of birding is planned from 05:30 to 17:00.  Prize-giving will take place at 18:30, and will be followed by a dinner braai. Prizes on offer include accommodation getaways at various national parks.

Prof. Craig will give a birding ringing demonstration on Sunday morning, after which the rest of the day can be spent at leisure, enjoying the beauty the Park has to offer.  Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the three lion introduced into the Park earlier this year.

Organised by the Honorary Rangers at Mountain Zebra National Park, the weekend costs R250 per person and includes the two dinners.

Black winged stilt. Image by: Carey Hobson
Black winged stilt. Image by: Carey Hobson
Orange throated longclaw. Image by: Carey Hobson
Orange throated longclaw. Image by: Carey Hobson

The registration fee does not include accommodation and this can be booked through SANParks on (012) 428 9111 or (041) 583 2030, via e-mail on reservations@sanparks.org or online at www.sanparks.org

Mountain Zebra National Park offers two-bedroom family cottages, a historic guesthouse, rustic mountain cottages and a camping ground. For further information contact Willem Olivier on 083 702 5218 or wjolivier@mymtnmail.co.za

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Mountain Zebra National Park Staff scoop awards

The Mountain Zebra National Park outside Cradock walked away from the 2012/13 SANParks Regional Awards evening with an armful of awards. The ceremony is held annually to celebrate the top achievers from the four national parks in the Frontier Region – namely Addo Elephant, Mountain Zebra, Camdeboo and Karoo National Parks. This year’s event was …

The Mountain Zebra National Park outside Cradock walked away from the 2012/13 SANParks Regional Awards evening with an armful of awards. The ceremony is held annually to celebrate the top achievers from the four national parks in the Frontier Region – namely Addo Elephant, Mountain Zebra, Camdeboo and Karoo National Parks.

This year’s event was hosted in Graaff-Reinet, with Camdeboo National Park right on its doorstep.

Mountain Zebra National Park scooped two of the evening’s most prestigious awards – Best Performing Entrance Gate of the Year, as well as Best Performing Reception of the Year, proving that the Park’s staff is the friendliest, most welcoming and most professional – constantly focussed on providing guests with outstanding customer service.

Individual awards on the evening went to Senior Section Ranger, Craig Williams and Guide and Field Ranger Michael Paxton. Williams received the Frontier Shield for Bravery award for his quick thinking and bravery in June 2012 when his colleagues were attacked by a black rhino. Craig managed to move his colleagues out of harm’s way in the initial stage of the rhino charging the four rangers. Paxton walked away with two awards – Best Customer Service for his continued excellent service to tourists on activities such as game drives and guided walks, featuring regularly in compliments on guests’ positive feedback on the Park. For his outstanding work in this field, Paxton also received a Regional Manager’s Award.

Best Entrance Gate of the Year
Best Performing Entrance Gate of the Year: SANParks Managing Executive Parks Division, Dr Nomvuselelo Songelwa and Mountain Zebra National Park Gate guards, Mhlabantu Yokwe and Xolani Kalashe.
Best Reception of the Year
Best Performing Reception of the Year: SANParks Managing Executive Parks Division, Dr Nomvuselelo Songelwa, Reception staff Jeanie Botha and Melisizwe Jali and Regional General Manager, Lucius Manager.
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Mountain Zebra National Park Holiday Fun

The Mountain Zebra National Park outside Cradock has an exciting winter school holiday programme lined up between 22 June and 6 July. Children between the ages of six and 16 and adults who consider themselves young at heart are invited to participate in a number of free activities over the two weeks. The only payment …

The Mountain Zebra National Park outside Cradock has an exciting winter school holiday programme lined up between 22 June and 6 July.

Children between the ages of six and 16 and adults who consider themselves young at heart are invited to participate in a number of free activities over the two weeks. The only payment due will be the conservation fee payable for Park entry. Game drives at a reduced price of R60 will also be on offer only to the youngsters.

Guided game drives will take place at 08h00 on Mondays, and at 09:00 on Wednesdays, which will include a visit to a cultural heritage and rock art site. A guided walk along the Imbila Hiking Trail (1km) will be offered on Tuesdays starting at 09:30. Thursdays will offer a range of fun leadership activities from 11:00 and on Fridays the programme centres around watching nature-based DVD’s and playing fun ecological games between 15:00 and 17:00. Finally, the young ones will be able to go on the Black Eagle Hiking Trail, a 2.5km guided walk, on Saturdays between 09:00 and 12:00.

Please book early as space is limited. Parents need to sign an indemnity form before children may participate in the activities. Programmes may be cancelled due to bad weather conditions. For further information, please contact the Park’s People and Conservation Officer, Mxolisi Fulumente, on (048) 881 2427.

Mountain Zebra National Park Holiday Fun
Mountain Zebra National Park Holiday Fun
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Raptor Identification Course

A raptor identification course is planned for the weekend of 8 – 10 March at Mountain Zebra National Park outside Cradock. The course will be presented by well-known ornithologist, wildlife photographer and author, Ulrich Oberprieler. Titled “Celebrating raptors: Their diversity and identification”, the course will be based on Ulrich’s new Raptor Guide. It will facilitate …

A raptor identification course is planned for the weekend of 8 – 10 March at Mountain Zebra National Park outside Cradock.

The course will be presented by well-known ornithologist, wildlife photographer and author, Ulrich Oberprieler. Titled “Celebrating raptors: Their diversity and identification”, the course will be based on Ulrich’s new Raptor Guide.

It will facilitate the identification and appreciation of this rather challenging group of birds. Participants will be given an overview of the Southern African raptor diversity and learn how to identify various species. Emphasis will thus not only be placed on raptor identification, but also their biology, behavior and conservation.

The biggest part of the course will be interactive lectures, as well as group activities and early morning walks to go birding.

Ulrich has authored and co-authored a number of books on birds over the years, including “Pocket-guide to Southern African Birds, A Guide to the Pipits of Southern Africa, A Guide to the Cisticolas of Southern Africa, A Guide to the Larks of Southern Africa, Southern African Garden Birds, The Raptor Guide for Southern Africa and the Bird Guide of Southern Africa”.

Organised by the Honorary Rangers at Mountain Zebra National Park, the weekend costs R450 per person and includes teas, Friday night dinner and Saturday lunch. Space is limited, and only the first 40 bookings can be accommodated.

The course fee does not include accommodation and this can be booked through SANParks on (012) 428 9111 or (041) 583 2030, via e-mail on reservations@sanparks.org or online at www.sanparks.org

Mountain Zebra National Park offers two-bedroom family cottages, a historic guesthouse, rustic mountain cottages and a camping ground.

Jackal Buzzard
Jackal Buzzard. Photograph: Alan Knott-Craig
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